Label printing and applying apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed label printing and applying apparatus by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise. The apparatus feeds pressure sensitive labels mounted on a web of supporting material to a printing zone and to a delaminating zone. An applicator disposed downstream of the delaminating zone is used to apply the labels to merchandise.

United States Patent Hamisch, Jr.

[ Apr. 22, 1975 LABEL PRINTING AND APPLYING APPARATUS Paul II. IIamisch, Jr., Franklin, Ohio The Monarch Marking System Company, Dayton, Ohio Filed: Mar. 7, 1974 'Appl. No.: 449,127

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Scr. No. 312,454. Dec. 6. I972. which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 208.035. Dec. 8. l97 l abandoned.

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl. 101/348 Int. Cl B4li 1/46 Field of Search 101/348, 349, 350, 92.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Mankiewicz lOl/l ll lO/ I903 1.244.524 l0/l9l7 Marshall [OI/352 X 3,330,207 7/ l 967 3.759.l78 9/l973 Franchinot et al. lOl/349 Primary ExaminerStephen C. Pellegrino Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Joseph 1. Grass [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed label printing and applying apparatus by which labels are successively printed and applied to merchandise. The apparatus feeds pressure sensitive labels mounted on a web of supporting material to a printing zone and to a delaminating zone. An applicator disposed downstream of the delaminating zone is used to apply the labels to merchandise.

5 Claims, 70 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRZZIQYS SHEET GZUF 13 PATENTEUAmzziYS SHEET DBGF 13 PATENTEDAPRZZIQYS SHEET l0JF13 w. W FIG-49 LABEL PRINTING AND APPLYING APPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a division of copending patent application Ser. No. 312,454 filed Dec. 6, 1972 which is a continuationin-part of abandoned patent application Ser. No. 208,035 filed Dec. 8, 1971, now abandoned. Certain subject matter disclosed in the present application is claimed in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 205,854 filed Dec. 9, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,106, and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 206,061 filed Dec. 8, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,083 and which are assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the art of pressure sensitive labels, method and apparatus for making and using same, and label printing and applying machines.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Various U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,642,387, 2,259,358, 2,275,064, 2,502,257, 2,516,487, 2,620,205, 2,656,063, 3,051,353, 3,265,553, 3,343,484,

3,440,123, 3,501,365, 3,551,251, and 3,611,929 are made of record.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to improved means for selectively setting and detenting printing members using a shiftable and rotatable selector for selectively changing the settings of any of the printing members. The selector has a drive element and a yieldable detent element. The drive element and the dentent element are located on the selector such that when the drive element is in engagement with the selected driven element the detent element is in detenting position in contact with at least one driven element. In one embodiment, the driven elements can comprise wheels about which respective flexible printig bands are trained. In this embodiment the selector can be in driving engagement with one of the driven wheels and can be shifted into driving engagement with any of the remaining wheels to set the printing bands to print the desired data on a record such as a ticket, tag, or label. The detent element engages either in a recess between adjacent wheels or in a groove or recess in one of the wheels. In another embodiment the printing members comprise print wheels, the hub of each of which comprises a driven member. The selector is detented in the same manner.

Invention also resides in the provision of a simple, low-cost platen which terminates at a peel edge, for use with the label printing and applying apparatus of the invention. The platen is formed from an inversely-bent metallic plate to provide a pair of side-by-side plate portions joined by an inversely-bent portion having a small radius and defining a peel edge. Printing is accomplished when the print head moves into printing relationship with a label positioned on the platen, and the printed label is delaminated from a web of supporting material by the peel edge. In a specific embodiment the plate portions are substantially co-extensive and are secured to each other by weldments.

The invention also comprises an inker or inking mechanism cooperable with printing means in the form of a print head. The inker comprise a one-piece inker body and an ink roller rotatably mounted by the inker body. The ink roller comprises a hub snap-fitted into the inker body and an ink receptive roll on the hub. The hub comprises a pair of hub sections. There is a stub end on each hub section and a flange on each hub section of the stub end. A porous ink receptive tubular roll is mounted between the flanges of the hub sections. The stub ends of the ink roller are snap-fitted into the inker body. The inker body is mounted for relative movement with respect to the printing means. The inker body includes an integrally formed resilient flexible finger for urging the ink roll into cooperation with the printing means.

The invention also comprises an applicator by which labels or the like can be applied to merchandise. The applicator inlcludes at least one and preferably a plurality of wheels. Labels are advanced into label applying relationship with respect to the applicator. The wheels are mounted for independent rotational and independent resilient yielding movements. Specifically, each wheel has an annular rim which carries an O-ring having a high-coefficient of friction. A plurality of flexible resilient arms formed integrally with the rim are engaged with a mounting shaft. While the label is being applied, the arms deflect resiliently to allow the individual wheels to yield independently. This feature is particularly useful in applying labels to merchandise with irregular surfaces.

It is a feature of the invention to provide an apparatus for printing and applying labels, in which a composite web of labels is carried in roll form and in which labels are successively printed by printing means and the printed labels are substantially delaminated by delaminating means and are applied by applying means. In the event the labels in the composite web are not completely separated from each other, application of one label will cause an excessive amount of the composite web to be paid out of the roll, thereby causing some loss of registration in the printing of the next successive label. It is known in the art to apply braking force to the composite web upstream of the delaminating means to prevent excessive amounts of composite web from being paid out of the roll, but such brakes involve linkages which are relatively costly and complicated. By controlling a brake directly from the print head the brake structure is relatively simple in construction, yet automatic in operation.

It is another feature of the invention to provide slectable printing members and means for limiting the amount of movement of the printing members. Each printing member, which is either of the endless type band or type wheel type, has a printing section and a human readable section. Stop means is provided to prevent the human readable section of the printing member from being advanced to the printing zone at which it could be inked by inking means. Such inking would obscure the readability of the human readable portion.

It is another feature of the invention to provide a compact, modular, spring assemebly for a hand-held machine such as a labeler. A specific embodiment of the spring assembly comprising a spring assembly having a sleeve, a plunger slidably received in the sleeve, a spring acting on both the sleeve and the plunger, and means providing a snap-fit connection between the sleeve and the plunger.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide an apparatus for printing and dispensing pressure sensitive labels having a delaminator and a feed wheel having teeth engageable with the supporting material downstream of the delaminator, together with a lubricant applicator for applying lubricant to the feed wheel to prevent accumulation of adhesive on the feed wheel.

It is another feature of the invention to provide an improved method of making a platen, and to a platen having at least one platen section composed of a flexible resilent material which is supported only at its periphery. The platen section or sections yield resiliently as the label is printed. The platen can also have means providing a delaminating or peel edge which has at least one interruption to reduce the area of contact with the composite label web to consequently reduce friction.

It is a feature of the invention to provide an improved inking mechanism in which the print head drives the inking mechanism, the housing guides and mounts the inking mechanism by means of rollers, and the ink roller of the inking mechanism rolls on the print head during inking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of label printing and applying apparatus for carryng out the method of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly broken away top plan view of a composite web useful in the label printing and applying apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view of the apparataus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of one of the subframe sections of the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the other subframe section;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view showing the manner in which the label core for the roll of labels is held and the manner in which braking force is applied by the subframe sections;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1lll of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken generally along line 12-12 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the inking mechanism;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view showing a fragmentary portion of the apparatus in solid lines, and in particular showing a fragmentary portion of the print head and the inking mechanism in both solid and phantom line positions;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line 15l5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a developed view showing the arrangement of the teeth of the detent mechanism;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line 17-17 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken generally along line l8l8 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view showing one of the three sets of snap-fit connections used to interconnect the frame and the subframe;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of an applicator roll shown mounted in the frame of the apparatus;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line 2l21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along line 2222 of FIG. 21, but omitting the shaft and the frictional member;

FIG. 23 is a partly sectional view of the mounting shaft which forms part of the applicator roll;

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the print head;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view of the print head taken generally along line 25-25 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view showing the selector in relationship to the associated driven wheels;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner in which detenting of the selector is effected, but showing the driven members as being of different widths;

FIG. 28 is a view similar to a fragmentary portion of FIG. 26, but showing the manner in which detenting can be effected directly on a wheel;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged, partly sectional, elevational view showing an alternative arrangement for constructing the selector;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the driving member depicted in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a partly exploded perspective view of a modified print head in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view of the selector in association with type wheels and mounting structure for the type wheels;

FIG. 33 is an end elevation view of the type wheels and the selector assembled in the mounting members;

FIG. 34 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3434 of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the label printing and applying apparatus;

FIG. 36 is a partly broken away top plan view of a composite web useful in the apparatus;

FIG. 37 is a sectional view taken along line 3737 of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a sectional view taken along line 38-38 of FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 through 44 are diagrammatic views illustrating a method of loading the apparatus;

FIG. 45 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a fragmentary portion of the actuating means including an operator and a spring assembly, with the operator being in its initial position;

FIG. 46 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the operator in its operated position;

FIG. 47 is an enlarged sectional view of the spring assembly;

FIG. 48 is an exploded perspective view of the spring assembly;

FIG. 49 is a sectional view taken generally along line 49-49 of FIG. 45;

FIG. 50 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the operating components of the apparatus in their initial positions;

FIG. 51 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 50, and showing especially the print head in its operating position with a brake in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 52 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 51, but showing the print head out of the operative position with the brake;

FIG. 53 is a sectional view taken along line 5353 of FIG. 52;

FIG. 54 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 55 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a fragmentary portion of a modified apparatus; 7

FIG. 56 is a sectional view taken along line 5656 of FIG. 55;

FIG. 57 is an elevational view, partly in section, on a reduced scale from that of FIGS. 55 and 56, showing a spring for assisting the unwinding of supply roll;

FIG. 58 is a view similar to FIG. 25, but illustrating an improved arrangement by which the human readable section of the printing member is prevented from being moved to the printing zone;

FIG. 59 is a top plan view of a sheet used in making a platen;

FIG. 60 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the sheet after having been inversely bent, together with a piece of moldable material, positioned in a press;

FIG. 61 is a top plan view of the completed platen;

FIG. 62 is a perspective view of the platen showing the composite web by phantom lines;

FIG. 63 is a sectional view taken along line 6363 of FIG. 62;

FIG. 64 is a sectional view taken along line 64-64 of FIG. 62, but showing additionally printing members in printing cooperation with individual platen sections of the platen; I

FIG. 65 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 66 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the apparatus showing a housing section in the closed position and showing the inking mechanism;

FIG. 67 is an exploded perspective view of an inker body and ink roller of the inking mechanism;

FIG. 68 is a view similar to FIG. 66, but showing the housing section in the open position;

FIG. 69 is a fragmentary view showing the ink roller bearing on the print head and inking the printing members; and I FIG. 70 is a perspective exploded view of a slug used with the print head.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to a label printing and applying apparatus generally indicated at 210 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 27, and initially to FIG. 1, there is shown to be a housing or main frame generally indicated at 211. The housing or frame 211 is specifically shown to include a pair of frame sections 212 and 213. Disposed within the housing 211 is a subframe generally indicated at 214 which comprises a pair of subframe sections 215 and 216. The frame sections 212 and 213 mount a platen 217-which includes a peel edge 218. A print head generally indicated. at 219 is mounted by the subframe 214. More specificaly, the print head 219 includes a plurality of selectable settable printing members 220 in the form of endless printing bands mounted by a print head frame 211. Extending from the frame 221 are a pair of flanges 222 and 223. Gear sections or specifically racks 224 and 225 are provided at the ends of the respective flanges 222 and 223. Opposed tracks 226 and 227 are formed on the respective flanges 222 and 223 to receive ball bearings 228 and 229. The subframe sections 215 and 216 have respective tracks 230 and 231. The ball bearing 228 is received in the track 226 of the flange 222 and in the track 230, and the ball bearing 229 is received in the track 227 in the flange 223 and in the track 231. The ball bearings 228 and 229 have respective balls 228 and 229'rotatably held by respective tangs or holders 228" and 229". In this manner, the print head 219 is mounted for movement, particularly reciprocating movement, toward and away from the platen 217.

The housing 211 has a handle generally indicated at 232 and particularly each housing or frame section 212 and 213 has a respective handle portion 233 and 234. An operator generally indicated at 235 is shown to comprise a pivotally operated lever 236 pivotally mounted by a post 237 at the lower end of the handle 232. The lever 236 is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) by a torsion spring 238 received about the post 237. The pivotal movement of the lever 236 is limited by an adjustable stop block 239 received by the handle 232 between the handle portions 233 and 234. The upper end of the operating lever 235 carries a pair of spaced-apart gear sections 240 and 241. The gear sections 240 and 241 are shown to be in the form of spur gear segments. Gear sections 240 and 241 are in meshing engagement with respective spur gears 242 and 243. The spur gears 242 and 243 are in meshing engagement with respective gear sections 224 and 225 carried by the print head 219.

A roll of pressure sensitive labels, in the form for example of the composite web 30 shown in FIG. 2, is mounted by its core 44 by the subframe 214. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the composite web 30 is drawn off the roll into overlying relationship with respect to the platen 217 and the supporting material 32 is engaged by a toothed driver 244. The gear 243 carries an integral pawl 245 cooperable with a ratchet wheel 246 which is coupled to the driver 244 by a detent mechanism generally indicated at 247. An input or drive member 248 of the detent mechanism 247 is shown in FIG. 1. The toothed driver 244 has a plurality of equally spaced apart drive teeth 249 arranged about its outer periphery. The pawl 245 is integrally joined at but one end to the gear 243. The pawl 245 is flexible and resilient and can ride on the ratchet wheel 246 and deflect into engagement with a tooth 265 of the ratchet wheel 246.

The housing or frame section 213 has an access opening 250. A cover 251 is removably connected to the frame section 213 at the access opening 250. The cover 251 mounts an inking mechanism 252 cooperable with the printing members 220 of the print head 219. The housing sections 212 and 213 mount an applicator 253 disposed downstream of the peel edge 218.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown composite web 30 of label material 31 releasably adhered to and carried by supporting or backing material 32. The label material 31 is cut transversely by transverse cuts 33 extending all the way across the web 31 of label material to the side edges 34 and 35 of the composite web 30. The cut 33 known as butt cuts separate the web 31 of label material into a series of end-to-end labels 36. The

underside of the web 31 of label material has a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive 37 which adheres strongly to the web 31 of label material. The web 32 of supporting material carries a thin film or coating (not shown) which allows the labels to be peeled from the web 32 of supporting material.

Groups 38 of cuts are provided at equally spaced part intervals along the length of the composite web 30. Each group 38 of cuts is shown to extend through the supporting material as well as through the label material. Each group of cuts is shown to be made in a generally I-shaped configuration comprised of cuts 39S, 40S and 415 in the supporting material and aligned cuts 39L, 40L and 41L in the label material. The part of the web 32 between the one end of the cut 39S and the cut 40S provides a frangible portion 43S and the part of the web 32 between the other end of the cut 398 and the cut 415 provides frangible portion 42S. In like manner, the part of the label material between the end of the cut 39L and the cut 40L provides a frangible portion 43L and the part between the other end of the cut 39L and the cut 41L provides a frangible portion 42L.

Referring to FIG. 3, the interrelationship of the components of the apparatus 210 is shown in detail. The composite web 30 is paid out of the roll and passes through a passage provided by subframe sections 215 and 216 and specifically by groove 254 (FIG. 9) in the subframe section 215 and a cooperating groove 255 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 7) in the subframe section 216. From there the composite web 30 passes partly around a roll 256 and into overlying relationship with the platen 217. Delamination is effected at the peel edge 218 formed at the end of the platen 217. The supporting material 32 is drawn around the peel edge 218 beneath the platen 217 and passes partly around a roll 2S7, below the guide 258 and between the toothed driver 244 and the mating die wheel 259. As a tooth 249 moves into mating cooperation with the die wheel 259, the tooth 249 engages the supporting material 32 at the longitudinal cut 39S and effects rupturing or bursting of the frangible portions 42S and 43S, whereupon the tooth 249 which is in mating cooperation with the die wheel 259 (FIG. 18) is considered to have formed a feed hole in the supporting material 242. It is preferred that there be three teeth 249 in driving engagement with the support material 32 at all times. The subframe sections 215 and 216 have respective aligned strippers 260 and 261 which facilitate disengagement of the teeth 249 with the supporting material 232 as the driver 244 rotates. Opposed guide grooves 262 and 263 formed in the subframe sections 215 and 216 guide the supporting material 32 to an exit opening 264. Excess supporting material which dangles from the apparatus 210 can be readily torn off at the exit opening 264.

With reference to FIG. 3, the print head 219 is shown by solid lines in the initial or home position and by phantom lines 219' in the printing zone in printing cooperation with the label 36 and the platen 217. The operator 235 is shown by solid lines in its intial or home position and in phantom lines 235 in the fully actuated position. In the fully actuated position, the print head 219 has been moved into printing cooperation with the labels 36 and the platen 217, and the operator 235 is in abutment with the stop block 239. In this position of the operator 235, the flexible resilient pawl 245 (FIG. joined integrally at one end to the gear 243, has moved to the position shown by phantom lines 245' in driving cooperation with a tooth 265 of the ratchet wheel 246. When the user releases the operator 235, the spring 238 (FIG. 3) returns the operator 235 against stop 239 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 3. While the operator 235 is returning to the solid line position from the fully actuated position indicated by phantom lines 235, the gear sections 240 and 241 (FIGS. 3 and 4) rotate gears 242 and 243 clockwise (FIG. 3) to return the print head 219 to the solid line position from the position shown by solid lines 219', and to drive the pawl 245 from the position shown by phantom lines 245 to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 15. Thus, the pawl 245, which is in line position from the fully actuated position indicated by phantom lines 235', the gear sections 240 and 241 (FIGS. 3 and 4) rotate gears 242 and 243 clockwise (FIG. 3) to return the print head 219 to the solid line position from the position shown by solid lines 219 and to drive the pawl 245 from the position shown by phantom lines 245 to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 15. Thus, the pawl 245, which is in engagement with a tooth 265, drives the ratchet wheel 246 counterclockwise (FIG. 15). This counterclockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 246 (FIG. 15) causes the driver 244 to advance the supporting material 32 to effect substantially complete delamination of a label at the peel edge 218. counterclockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 246 continues until a pawl 266 (FIGS. 1, 7 and 15) in the form of a flexible resilient appendage of the subframe section 216, moves into engagement with a tooth 265 of the ratchet wheel. This prevents the web of supporting material 32 from being accidentally moved in the return direction.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the driver 244 has an annular rim 267 joined to a hub 268 by a radial web 269. The hub 268 has a hub section 268' extending in one direction and another hub section 268" extending in the opposite direction. The hub section 268' terminates at a knob 270, and the hub section 268" terminates at a knob 270'. The gear 242 is rotatably journaled on and with respect to the hub section 268. The gear 242 has a hub or flange 271 which is rotatably journaled in opening 272 in the frame section 212. The hub section 268 extends through an enlarged opening 273 in the subframe section 215. The hub section 268" provides a stepped pair of bearing surfaces 274. The ratchet wheel 246 is formed integrally with the drive member 248 of the detent mechanism 247. The ratchet wheel 246 and the drive member 248 have a hub 276 with a stepped bore 275 into which the hub section 268" extends. A hub 276 rotatably receives and mounts the gear 243. The gear 243 has a hub 277 rotatably received in a bearing 278 formed integrally with housing section 213. As seen in FIG. 4, the gears 242 and 243 are in driving engagement with respective gear sections 224 and 225 carried by the print head 219; the relative position of the drive pawl 245 to the ratchet wheel 246 is also sshown.

With reference to FIG. 15, the drive member 248 includes a plurality of spring fingers or detent pawls 278. The pawls 278 are of equal length, are flexible and resilient, and are continuously urged against teeth 279 formed on the inside of the annular rim 267. In the illustrated embodiment there are one hundred and seventIy-seven teeth 279 at equally spaced-apart intervals. There are twelve pawls 278 integrally connected to the hub 276 at equally spaced-apart intervals. The

teeth 279 comprise respective tooth faces 280 and a recess between adjacent tooth faces 280 in which the end of a pawl 278 can be recieved. The pawls 278 drive the feed wheel 244 in a driving direction (counterclockwise in FIG. but can move in a non-driving direction (clockwise in FIG. 15) relative to the feed wheel 244 by manually operating the detent mechanism 247. Accordingly, every fifth pawl 278 is engaged with the face 280 of a tooth 279. The pawls 278 between every fifth set of pawls are out of engagement with their respective tooth faces 280 by different increments as best illustrated in FIG. 16. Normally, the pawls 278 hold the ratchet wheel 246 and the feed wheel or driver 244 in fixed relationship with respect to each other. With reference to FIG. 15, as the drive pawl 245 moves counterclockwise the ratchet wheel 246 is driven counterclockwise and the three pawls 278 which are in driving engagement with their respective tooth faces 280 will drive the feed wheel 244 counterclockwise. Accordingly, there is no relative rotation between the ratchet wheel 246 and the feed wheel 244. Should it be desired to change the position to which the labels are advanced by the feed wheel 244 upon actuation of the operator 235, the user will grasp the knobs 270 and 270 and will rotate the knob 270 counterclockwise (FIG. 1) relative to the knob 270. This will cause the input member 248 to rotate (counterclockwise in FIG. 1, clockwise in FIG. 15) relative to the feed wheel 244 so that the next three successive teeth move into engagement with the next three respective tooth faces 280. For example, if it is considered that first, fifth and ninth pawls 278 were initially in engagement with respective teeth 279, only a very slight rotation will cause second, sixth and tenth pawls to move into engagement with their respective tooth faces 280, and so on. Although any desired number of pawls 278 and teeth 280 can be used, the illustrated embodiment provides very minute adjustment of the feed wheel 244 relative to the platen 217 and the peel edge 218 and the arrangement of teeth 280 and cooperating pawls 278 causes the entire input or drive member 248 to be centered within the annular rim 267. With respect to the printing function, adjustment of the detent mechanism 247 changes the position relati ile to the printing the print between theprint head 219 and the platen 217 to which a label 36 is advanced. With respect to the delaminating function, operation of the detent mechanism 247 also changes the position to which the label 36 is advanced. Accordingly, it is apparent that the detent mechanism 247 is useful both in establishing the position to which a label is advanced relative to the printing zone and to the delaminatng zone. It is important that just the correct amount of trailing marginal end edge of the label remain adhered to the peel edge so that the label 36 is held in that position until it is ready to be applied to merchandise by the applicator 253.

As best shown in FIGS. 15, 17, and 18, the supporting material 32 is initially brought into engagement with the feed wheel 244 as it passes around the die wheel 259. The die wheel 259 is comprised of an annular plastic roll 281 journaled by subframe sections 215 and 216. The roll 281 has frictional members in the form of rubber O-rings 282 received at spaced-apart locations about the periphery of the roll 281. The 0- rings straddle the teeth 249 and are just spaced apart far enough to act as a die wheel with mating teeth 249. As a tooth 249 begins to engage the web of supporting material 32 at the cut 39S (FIG. 2), the die wheel 259 cooperates with the tooth 249 to hold the supporting material 32 on each side of the group 38 of cuts in intimate contact with the outer surface of the feed wheel 244 as best shown in FIG. 18. This insures that the tooth 249 properly bursts or forms a hole, facilitated by the group 38 of cuts, in the supporting material 32 and that the drive face of the tooth 249 is in driving engagement with the leading cut 418. When the first tooth 249 registers with the group 38 of cuts in the supporting material 32 the composite web 30 is properly registered with the printing zone and the delaminating zone. Once such registration is accomplished as the result of the tooth 249 cooperating with the die roll 259, correct registration continues.

The plate 217 and the peel edge 218 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) are formed from an inversely-bent plate having a pair of side-by-side plate portions 283 and 284 joined by an inversely-bent portion 285. The inversely-bent portion 285 has a small radius and defines the peel edge 218. The plate portions 283 and 284 are co-extensive and are secured to each other by weldments 286. The plate which forms the platen 217 and the peel edge 218, received in recesses 286' in subframe sections 215 and 216, is preferably constructed of highly polished stainless steel. The sides of the plate that forms the platen 217 and the peel edge 218 are received in opposed recesses 286' in the subframe sections 215 and 216. A label stopper isprovided by a pair of aligned plates 218' formed integrally with the subframe sections 215 and 216. The plates 218' are disposed beneath but are spaced from the plate 217. Should a label 36 attempt to fall onto the supporting material 32 after being delaminated at the peel edge 218, the labels 36 will be caught by the plates 218'. This will prevent any label 36 from continuing along the path through which the supporting material 32 passes after passing the peel edge 218.

With reference to FIG. 3, the stop block 239 is shown to be slidable on a stop surface 287. The stop block 239 has a threaded bore 288 which threadably receives an adjusted screw 289. One half of the screw 289 is rotatably received in a semi-circular groove 290 and onehalf of the head 291 of the screw 289 is captive in a semi-circular recess 292 in the seat 293. The handle portion 233 of the frame section 212 provides another stop surface (not shown) for the stop block 239 in alignment with the stop surface 287, another semicircular groove (not shown) opposite the groove 290 for receiving the other one-half of the screw 289, and another semi-circular recess (not shown) opposite the recess 292 for receiving the other one-half of the head 291. A hole 294, one-half of which is formed by each handle portion 233 and 234, enables entry of a tool (not shown) by which the head 291 of the screw 289 can be engaged to rotate the screw 289. Rotation of the screw in one direction will cause the stop block 239 to move upwardly (FIG. 3) and rotation of the screw 289 in the opposite direction will cause the stop block 239 to move downwardly (FIG. 3). It is apparent that adjustment of the position of the stop block 239 will adjust the limit of the travel of the operator 235.

With reference to FIG. 13, the inking mechanism 252 is shown to comprise a one-piece inker body 295 having an aligned pair of sockets 296 having converging openings 297. The sockets 296 extend for more than so that the ink roll 298 can be snapped into the sockets 296. The inker body 295 has a pair of aligned projections 299 which are capable of being snapped into sockets 300 (FIG. 1) in the cover 251. The sockets 300 are shaped like the sockets 296. The inker body 295 has an integrally formed leaf spring or spring finger 301 which is shown in FIG. 14 to be urged against the cover 251. The spring finger 301 normally urges the inking mechanism 252 into the solid line position shown in FIG. 14. The ink roller 298 is shown in FIG. 14 to be in the path of but slightly spaced from the print head 219 because in that position the inker body 295 contacts the frame 221 of the print head 219. When the print head 219 is moved from the solid line position to the phantom line position, the ink roll 298 applies ink to the printing bands 220 and the entire inking mechanism 252 pivots about projections 299 to the position shown in phantom lines. When the print head 219 returns to the solid line position shown in FIG. 14, the spring finger 301 returns the inking mechanism 252 to the solid line position.

With reference to FIG. 13, the ink roller 298 is shown to comprise a pair of hub sections 302 and 303. The hub section 302 has an elongated projection 304 at one end and a stub end 305 at its opposite end. The hub section 302 has an annular flange 306 between the stub end 305 and a reduced or roll-mounting portion 307. The reduced portion 307 is disposed between the flange 306 and the projection 304. The other hub section 303 has an annular flange 308 disposed between a reduced or roll-mounting portion 309 and a stub end 310. The reduced portion 309 has a bore 304' into which the projection 304 is adapted to be press-fitted. The projection 304 has straight flutes which serve to lock the hub portions 302 and 303 toegther. An inkreceptive tubular porous roll 311, composed for example of rubber or the like, is received on the reduced portions 307 and 309 of respective hub sections 302 and 303. The flanges 306 and 308 abut the ends of the roll 311 and prevent the roll 311 from shifting.

With reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the subframe sections 215 and 216 are shown to have respective integral leaf springs 312 and 313. The leaf springs 312 and 313 are provided with integral annular brake members 314 and 315 having respective annular brake surfaces 316 and 317. Brake members 314 and 315 are formed integrally with projections or hubs 318 and 319, surfaces 318 and 319' of which are received in and mount label core 44. The brake surfaces 316 and 317 cooperate to exert braking forces on the label core 44. Neither the hubs 318 and 319 nor the brake members 314 and 315 contact the composite web 30 which is wound on the label core 44. In this manner, any gum or adhesive that may exist at the marginal side edges of the composite web 30 will not be transferred to the brake surfaces 316 and 317. FIG. 10 illustrates, in exaggerated form, by phantom lines, the initial positions of the leaf springs 312 and 313, the brake members 314 and 315 and the hubs 318 and 319. The initial canted position of the leaf springs 313, the brake members 315 and the hub 319 relative to the remainder of the subframe section 216 is also shown in FIG. 8. Insertion of the label core 44 onto the hubs 318 and 319 will cause the leaf springs 312 and 313 to flex outwardly and the brake surfaces 316 and 317 will exert a predetermined braking force on the ends of the core 44. The braking force applied to'the core 44 will insure that there is tension in the web 32 of supporting material from the label roll to the printing zone, to the peel edge 218, and to the toothed driver 244. As the pawl 266 (FIG. 15) prevents the reverse rotation of the driver 244, it is seen that the apparatus maintains a slight but desirable amount of tension on the web of supporting material 32 at all times.

The frame 211 comprises an essentially closed shell but the rear part provides an access opening 211' through which a roll of labels can be inserted and a spent core 44 can be removed without even partial disassembly of the apparatus 210.

With reference to FIGS. 20 and 23, there is shown the applicator 253 mounted by the frame 211. The applicator 253 comprises a hub 320 shown to have four annular generally V-shaped grooves 321 in which respective wheels 322 are rotatably mounted. The hub 320 also has a pair of annular flanges 323 disposed between the set of three wheels 322 and the remaining wheel 322. The wheels 322 have greater diameters than the flanges 323. The ends of the hub 320 beyond the grooves 321 are stub ends 324. Undercuts 325 inboard of the stub ends 324 enable the hub to be retained in cooperating yieldable sockets 326 and 327 in frame sections 212 and 213. The sockets 326 and 327 are comprised of a plurality of separate socket sections or flexible resilient fingers 328 and 329 to enable the stub ends 324 to be snapped into place. The sockets 326 and 327 and the cooperating stub ends 324 provide opposed snap-fit connections.

The wheels 322 are identical so only one is described in detial. Each wheel 322 is comprised of an annular rim 330 having an annular groove 331 in its outer periphery. A rubber O-ring 322 is received in the groove 331. A plurality of equally spaced-apart arms 333 formed integrally with the rim 330 have generally V- shaped bearing sections 334 received in the respective groove 321. The bearing sections 334 of the arms 333 exert forces against the hub 320, but enable the wheel 322 to rotate relative to the hub 320 and enable the wheel 322 to yield as a label 36 is being applied to the merchandise.

As the rubber O-rings 332 have a high coefficient 'of friction, rotation of the wheels 322 during label application is facilitated. The spacing of the wheels 322 allows the applicator 253 to press the label 36 onto the merchandise without contacting the printing which was applied to the labels 36 by the print head 219. As the label is pressed onto the merchandise, the arms 333 allow the wheels to yield. This yielding action is particularly useful when applying labels to merchanidse having irregular surfaces in that the wheels 322 are mounted for both independent rotational and independent yielding movements with respect to each other. The flanges 323 prevent the adjacent wheels 322 from deflecting more than a small amount away from the perpendicular with respect to the hub 320.

Referring to FIG. 24, there is shown an exploded view of the print head 219. The print head frame 221 is shown to comprise a side plate 335 to which the flanges 222 and 223 are jo ned. A mounting block 336 is molded integrally with the side plate 335. The block 336 has a platen or pressure member 337 and arcuate mounting surfaces 338. The mounting block 336 also has a socket 339 for receiving a projection 340 of the other side plate 341. A post 342 is formed integrally with the side plate 335 in axial alignment with a hole 343 in the side plate 341 A pair of posts 344 formed integrally with the side plate 335 have hooks 345 which 

1. An ink roller for a printing apparatus, comprising: a hub having a pair of hub sections, each hub section having a rollmounting portion, a flange, and a stub end, the flange of each hub section being disposed between the respective roll-mounting portion and the stub end of each hub section being integrally constructed of molded plastics material, one of the hub sections having a projection and the other hub section having a recess in which the projection is received, and an ink-receptive tubular porous roll received by the roll-mounting portions between the flanges, the stub ends being capable of being snapped in snapsockets to rotatably mount the ink roller, the flanges being not substantially less in diameter than the diameter of the porous roll and being of sufficient extent to be capable of bearing against a bearing surface of a print head and the ink-receptive roll being capable of inking printing members.
 1. An ink roller for a printing apparatus, comprising: a hub having a pair of hub sections, each hub section having a roll-mounting portion, a flange, and a stub end, the flange of each hub section being disposed between the respective roll-mounting portion and the stub end of each hub section being integrally constructed of molded plastics material, one of the hub sections having a projection and the other hub section having a recess in which the projection is received, and an ink-receptive tubular porous roll received by the roll-mounting portions between the flanges, the stub ends being capable of being snapped in snap-sockets to rotatably mount the ink roller, the flanges being not substantially less in diameter than the diameter of the porous roll and being of sufficient extent to be capable of bearing against a bearing surface of a print head and the ink-receptive roll being capable of inking printing members.
 2. An ink roller as defined in claim 1, projection having flutes for locking the hub sections together.
 3. An ink roller as defined in claim 1, wherein each hub section is solid.
 4. An ink roller for a printing apparatus, comprising: a hub having a pair of hub sections connected to each other, each hub section having a roll-mounting portion, a flange, and a stub end, the flange of each hub section being disposed between the respective roll-mounting portions and the stub end, the roll mounting portion, the flanges and the stub end of each hub section being integrally constructed of molded plastics material, an ink-receptive tubular porous roll received by the roll-mounting portions between the flanges, the stub ends being capable of rotatably mounting the ink roller, the flanges being of sufficient extent to be capable of bearing against a print head and the ink-receptive roll, and at least one roller rotatably mounted to each stub end, wherein one of the rollers at each stub end is a guide roller, the guide rollers being adapted to be guided in respective guide tracks in the apparatus. 